Cigarette Lighter Cover with Bottle Opener

ABSTRACT

The invention is a lighter cover for use with a cigarette lighter, the cover including a bottle opener for removing crimped crown-type caps from bottles and a pull-tab opener for lifting a pull-tab on a beverage can.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cover for cigarette lighters. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to such a cover that includes abottle opener.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Persons who smoke commonly carry on their person a lighter forcigarettes or cigars. Regardless of the intended use of the lighter, itwill be referred to hereinafter as a cigarette lighter. Hikers andcampers also use lighters to start campfires. Because of this, thecigarette lighter lends itself as a carrier for some other item that aperson may frequently use, such as a bottle opener. A lighter cover thatincludes a bottle opener is one that is called the MANTIS bottle openerlighter cover. This lighter cover is designed to receive the BIC®lighter. A pry-type bottle opener for opening crimped crown bottle capsis provided on the bottom of the lighter cover.

The crown bottle cap is used, of course, only on bottles. Beverages arealso commonly provided in aluminum cans that have a pull-tab for openingthe can. To open these pull tabs, one must insert a fingernail under thetab and lift up. Many people, particularly women with manicured andpolished fingernails, do not like to do this, because the actionfrequently damages the nail polish or breaks the nail.

What is needed, therefore, is a cover lighter that includes a bottleopener and pull-tab opener.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a lighter cover for a conventional cigarette lighter,the lighter cover including a bottle opener and a pull-tab opener. Thelighter cover is a molded component, dimensioned to receive a cigarettelighter, such that the cigarette lighter remains usable while in thecover. Incorporated into the cover is a pry-type bottle opener foropening crimped crown bottle caps and also a pull-tab opener to lift thepull-tab on a beverage can.

The bottle opener is provided on the side and the pull-tab opener on thebottom of the lighter cover. Additional elements, such as a golf-ballmarker, a clock, a compass, etc. may also be incorporated into thelighter cover.

The lighter cover is molded from a strong, durable material, such as ABSplastic or stainless steel. The cover may be lined with an overmold of asofter, compressible material, so as to provide a secure frictional gripon the cigarette lighter, to prevent it from falling out of the lightercover. An overmold of softer material may also be provided on the outersurface of the lighter cover, to aesthetic reasons, and also to providea softer grip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical orfunctionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lighter cover according to theinvention, showing a first face having the bottle opener with magnet andthe pull-tab opener.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lighter cover, showing a second facehaving a retainer for an additional element, this case, a magnet forholding a golf-ball marker.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the body, showing details of the bottleopener.

FIG. 4 is a first side plan view.

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view, showing the retainer for an additionalelement.

FIG. 6 is second side plan view.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the lighter cover.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the lighter cover, showing afriction-fit liner on the inside of the body.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lighter cover according to theinvention, showing a partial shield over the bottle opener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferredembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not,however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete andwill fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in theart.

FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a lighter cover 100 according to the invention, thelighter cover comprising a cover body 10, a bottle opener 30 and apull-tab opener 40. It is understood that the shape and dimensions ofthe lighter cover 100 may be selected to fit a specific lighter, such asthe BIC®, as shown in the figures, or the ZIPPO® cigarette lighter, orany other type or brand of lighter. FIG. 1 is a perspective view,showing a front face 16A of the sidewall 16 and the top, and FIG. 2 is aperspective view, showing a rear face 16B and the bottom of the lightercover. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cover lighter 100 and FIG. 4 a firstside view. FIG. 5 is a rear plan view and FIG. 6 a second side view.FIGS. 7 and 8 are top and bottom plan views, respectively, FIG. 9 is across-sectional view of the lighter cover 100, and FIG. 10 a perspectiveview of a second embodiment of the cover lighter that has a shield overa portion of the bottle opener 30.

Ideally, the lighter cover 100 has a shape and dimensions that provide aform-fit for a cigarette lighter. In the embodiments shown, the lightercover is constructed to receive a cigarette lighter that has straightsides and is oval in shape. The cover body 10 has an open top 12, abottom 14, and a side wall 16. The side wall has a front face 16A, arear face 16B, a first end face 16C, and a second end face 16D. It isunderstood that the cover body 10 can be rectangular in shape, with fourplane faces 16A-16D or round with four portions 16A-16D. The cover body10 is constructed of a durable material, such as ABS plastic orstainless steel.

The bottle opener 30 is provided in the front face 16A and is defined bya recess 32 that is deep enough to accommodate an edge of a bottle cap.A metal plate or bar is embedded in the lower part of the cover body 10,such that a pry edge 34 for lifting a bottle cap from a bottle extendsinto the area of the recess 32. Also provided in the recess 32 is amagnet 36. This magnet 36 also serves as the leverage surface againstthe bottle cap, in the process of lifting it from the bottle. Thepurpose of the magnet is to attract and hold the cap, so that it may beproperly disposed of, rather than fall to the ground. FIG. 10illustrates a shield 38 that may be integrated into the cover body 10.The shield is essentially a thickening of the cover body in the areaabove the recess and may have a slightly out-ward rounded contour. Therounded contour is desirable for reasons of comfort and aesthetics.Also, thicker material of the cover body in this area increases thestrength of the leverage surface. The lower face of the shield providesa surface into which the magnet 36 may be embedded, such that the magnetstill serves as the leverage surface against the bottle cap.

Optional elements of the lighter cover 100 include a retainer for anadditional element 50, a tether means 60, and a friction-fit liner 20.The additional element 50 may be a golf-ball-marker retainer, a clock, acompass, etc. In the embodiment shown, the additional element 50 is agolf-ball-marker. A recess 52 that is dimensioned to hold a golf-ballmarker is formed in the side wall 16. The recess 52 is contoured toenable one to press an edge of the golf-ball marker into it, so as toforce an opposite edge out of the recess, to facilitate removing thegolf-bail marker from the recess. A magnet 56 is embedded into oradhesively bonded to the recess 52 to hold the metal golf-ball marker 54in place. It is understood that the additional element may be anyinstrument or device that can be magnetically attached to the recess 52or adhesively or otherwise affixed thereto. It is also within the scopeof the invention to provide a lip around the perimeter of the recess,52, so that the additional element may be snapped into place, ratherthan held by a magnet.

In the embodiment shown, the tether means 60 is provided in the bottomof the body 10. In this embodiment, the tether means 60 includes athrough-bore 62 through the cover body 10 to which a key ring 64, atether strap, etc may be attached. The user may then attach a strap,chain, cord, or other device to the tether means 60.

The bottom 14 includes an intermediate bottom 46, a lifter 42, and a gap44 formed therebetween. The lifter 42 is thin enough to slip under andthe gap large enough to receive the pull-tab on a conventional beveragecan. Once the lifter 42 is inserted under the pull-tab, the lightercover is moved at an angle relative to the place of the lid of the can,to lift the pull-tab sufficiently to open the can.

The inside of the body may be filled with a friction-fit liner 20 thatis soft and compressible and provides a secure friction fit against thecigarette lighter. FIG. 9 shows the liner 20 lining the inside wall ofthe body extending only part way down the inside wall. It is alsopossible, of course, to provide the friction-fit liner 20 down theentire length of the inner wall. A suitable material for thefriction-fit liner is silicone. Depending on the geometry of thecigarette lighter and the material used for the cover body 10, use ofthe friction-fit liner 20 may be unnecessary. The amount of friction-fitliner 20 that is needed to securely hold the cigarette lighter is also afunction of the type of material used for the friction-fit liner and thegeometry of the cigarette lighter.

Although not shown in the drawings, it is understood that an overmold ofa soft material may be applied to the outer surface, or a portionthereof, to provide a comfortable feel and grip for the user.

It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merelyillustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction ofthe lighter cover may be contemplated by one skilled in the art withoutlimiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and asdefined by the following claims.

1: A cover for use with a cigarette lighter, the cover comprising: acover body having a side wall; and a bottle opener incorporated into theside wall, the bottle opener including a cap pry embedded into the sidewall and a magnet that serves as the leverage surface against a bottlecap when the bottle opener is operated to remove the bottle cap from abottle. 2: The cover of claim 1, further comprising a first recess inthe side wall, and wherein the bottle opener is disposed in the firstrecess. 3: The cover of claim 2, further comprising a shield in the sidewall that extends over a portion of the first recess, so as to shield aprotrusion on which the magnet is mounted. 4: The cover of claim 1,further comprising an additional element incorporated into the sidewall. 5: The cover of claim 4, wherein the additional element is agolf-ball-marker retainer for holding a golf-ball marker, thegolf-ball-marker retainer comprising a second recess and a magnet in thesecond recess for attracting and holding the golf-ball marker. 6: Thecover of claim 5, wherein the second recess is contoured to allow aperson to push against a first edge of the golf-ball marker in thesecond recess, in order to force a second edge of the golf-ball markerout of the second recess. 7: The cover of claim 1, the cover bodyfurther comprising a bottom that includes a pull-tab lifter for liftingthe pull tab on a beverage can. 8: The cover of claim 1, furthercomprising a tether means. 9: The cover of claim 8, the tether meanscomprising a through-hole formed in the bottom of the body and a ringthat is captured in the through-hole.